Machine for pitting fruit.



Patented Oct. 9, I900. W. ANDERSON.

MACHINE FOR FITTING FRUIT.

(Application filed Nov. 17, 1899.)

2 Sheets-Sheet l.

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No. 659.598. U Patented Oct. 9, I900. W. ANDERSON.

MACHINE FOR FITTING FRUIT.

(Applicatibn filed Nov. 17, 1899. N 0 Model.) 2 Sheets$heet 2.

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WILLIAM ANDERSON, or SOAPPOOSE, OREGON;

MACHINE FOR PITTING FRUIT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 659,598, dated October 9, 1900.

Application filed November 1'7, 1899. Serial No. 737,307. \NO model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM ANDERSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Scappoose, in the county of Columbia and State of Oregon, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Pit-ting Fruit, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to machines for re moving the pits or stones from small fruitssuch as cherries, plums, and the likeand has for its object to provide a machine of the: class described which will perform the operation of pitting with rapidity and certainty and without destroying the shape of the fruit or mutilating it to any great extent.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side eleva-; tion of a machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section taken 1ongitudinally of the machine and showing portions of the gearing in dotted lines. Fig. 3 is an end elevation showing parts in section. Fig. 4 is a detail view showing the arrangement of the main driving-gears and the stopmotion device for timing the operation of the pitting mechanism.

In the drawings, A represents the main frame, mounted upon suitable legs and pro- 1 vided with suitable extensions and bearingbrackets, to be hereinafter described.

B represents the feeding-belt, carried by a pair of rollers 19 b, journaled in bearings in the frame A and supported intermediate the rollers by a table or support B, arranged directly below the upper or carrying portion of the belt. The belt is of a width equal to the interior width of the frame A and is so arranged that its upper or carrying surface extends from a point close to and somewhat above the front end of the frame to a point distant about two-thirds the length of the machine and somewhat below the upper edge of the frame, whereby the belt is given a downward pitch to assist in the feeding operation. The portion of the frame surrounding the belt is provided with a removable rail A, preferably corresponding in its dimen-' sions with those of the frame, so as to form, practically, an extension thereof, and held in place by any suitable fastening means. This rail forms a hopper adapted to retain the fruit upon the belt 13 and is made removable to facilitate the cleaning of the machine and give access to its parts.

Close to the rear end of the belt B and mounted on the frame A is a horizontal crossbar 0, provided with a suitable number of pins or fingers O, which project downward in rear of and in close proximity to the end of the belt B. The cross-bar C is preferably removable and is held in place by pins or other fastening means. 1 D is alongitudinally-grooved distributing plate mounted in rear of the belt B and the pins 0 and somewhat below the upper surface of the belt, the grooves 01 in the plate correspondingin 'numberand position to the spaces or openings between the pins or fingers G. This plate is preferably arranged with a downward pitch and is of a length sufficient to bridge the space between the belt B and the pitting-block E. Said block E is preferably cylindrical in form and is provided upon its diametrically-opposite sides with cup-shaped depressions or pockets e, equal in number and similar in arrangement to the grooves in the distributing-plate D. Said depressions are of a size suitable to receive the fruit intended to be pitted or stoned, and each pair of oppositely-disposed depressions are connectedby a hole or perforation 6', extending enough in diameter to permit the stone or pit of the fruit to pass freely therethrough, but not large enough to admit of the passage of the fruit itself.

Directly above the pitting cylinder is placed the movable member of the seeding mechanism, which is constructed and arranged as follows: Extending upward from the rear portion of the frame A are two brackcentrally through the cylinder and large ets A united at their upper ends bya crosspiece A bolted or otherwise 'removably secured thereto. The inner sides of the bracketpieces A I provide with vertically-disposed strips or pieces (1, preferably formed integral therewith and constituting slideways for a i vertically-movable cross-head F. Said crosshead F is preferably provided at its outer ends with bearing-blocks F, which fit snugly in said slideways and prevent lateral play of the cross-head, while at the same time giving perfect freedom of vertical movement. Extending upward from the cross head F is a rod f, which projects through an opening in the cross-piece A The projecting portion is of a convenient length, and its upper end is threaded to receive a nut f, adapted to secure in place a coiled spring f which surrounds the rod and bears upon the top of the cross-piece A In this manner the crosshead F is normally held in its elevated position, the tension of the holding-spring being regulated by the adjustment of the nut f.

G G are pitting pins or rods carried by the cross-head F and corresponding in number and position to the perforations e in the pittingcylinder, which they are adapted to enter during the operation of the machine. The length of these pins and the path of movement of the crosshead are such that when the said cross-head is at the lowest point of its movement the ends of the pins G are at or somewhat below the center of the cylinder E, and when the cross-head is in its normal or raised position the pins clear the surface of the cylinder by half an inch or more. The ends of the pins or rods are preferably serrated or toothed to form a crown, as shown at g in Figs. 2 and 3, the serrations being formed with sharp cutting edges and points adapted to cut cleanly through the meat of the fruit and to keep the pit or stone of the fruit from slipping away from the path of the pin.

Secured to the sides of the frame and extending across the machine between the cylinder E and the pins G when the latter are raised is a plate H, having perforations h therein through which the pins can pass freely, and below the cylinder E is located a trough I, extending across the machine and provided along its rear edge with a flange or lip 1', extending rearwardly beyond the vertical plane tangential to the pitting-cylinder and arranged at an angle to such plane. The trough contains a conveying worm or screw I, mounted in suitable bearingsin the framework of the machine.

The frame A of the machine is preferably provided near its base with front and rear extensions A, provided with suitable bearings, in which are journaled a series of beltcarrying rollers J J, one of which may be given a step-by-step rotary movement by means to be hereinafter described. The belt carried by these rollers is adapted to carry the trays or pans into which the stoned fruit is dropped and which are moved slowly forward by means of the rotating roller in order that there may always be a tray in place to receive the fruit and that each tray may be evenly filled throughout its length.

I will now describe the preferred means whereby the parts are operated.

K is the main driving-shaft, journaled in hearings in the brackets A It is provided intermediate its ends with a pair of projecting arms or cams L, which engage at each revolution of the shaft with corresponding cam-shaped projections F on the cross-head F and force the latter downward, releasing the cams when the lower point is reached, at which the chord representing the locus of movement of the cam F intersects the circle described by the tip of the arm L.

The shaft K is provided at one end with suitable driving means, such as a pulley or, as I have illustrated in the drawings, a crankhandle M, and also with an eccentric M, preferably located between the driving means andthe outer face of the bracket A Surrounding the eccentric is a strap N, to which are attached pawls N and N adapted to engage with ratchets J and b mounted upon the shafts of the rollers J and b, respectively. These pawls are supported in suitableguides n, attached to the framework. Upon the opposite end of the shaft K is secured a mutilated gear-wheel K, adapted to mesh with an idler X, which in turn meshes with a pinion E, mounted on the shaft of the pitting-cylinder E. The idler and pinion are of the same size, and each has twice as many teeth as the mutilated gear K, which is toothed .upon half its circumference only. By such means the pinion E and the pitting-cylinder E are given only a half-turn to each revolution of the driving-shaft K, and consequently the depressions e in the opposite sides of the cylinder are alternately presented to the pitting-pins.

To insure that the cylinder will he in proper position for operationthat is to say, with the perforations e in line with pins G-with the cross-head F, with its pitting-pins, is caused to descend, I have provided mechanism for positively securing the cylinder in such position. This mechanism preferably comprises a lever O, pivoted to the frame at O and arranged between the pinion E and the frame A, said lever being notched or recessed at 0 for engagement with pins e so arranged on opposite sides of the pinion E that when they are ,in engagement with the slots the perforations or holes e in the cylinder are disposed directly in the path of movement of the pins G and adapted to engage said pins e when the cylinder is in such operative position. I also provide means for releasing the lever 0 from its locking engagement with the pins when the pitting-pins have completed their movement and are again in raised position, the mechanism whichI prefer for this purpose being illustrated in the drawings.

P is a short lever centrally pivoted to the bracket A above the lever 0, one end thereof being connected to the end of the lever O by a link 19. The free end of the lever P extends into the path of movement of a pin or lug is upon the gear K, between the said gear K and the bracket A, and is adapted to be pressed down by the said pin during the revolutionof the gear. In this manner the rear or outer end of the lever P is raised, and with it the lever 0, so releasing the pin e from the notch 0 to permit the pitting-cylinder to be turned. The pin is so arranged as to contact with the lever P just before the first tooth of the mutilated gear engages the idler X and to release the lever after the pinion E has been turned far enough to move the pin out of the path of the notch 0 in order that the lever may not operate to lock the machine again until the other pin 6 is brought upward and the other set of depressions or cups in the pitting-cylinder presented to the pins G. The worm I is driven by any suitable means, preferably by a belt Q, passing over pulleys I and K mounted in the shafts I and K, respectively.

The operation of the machine is as follows: Thecherries or other fruit to be pitted are placed on thebelt B and spread evenly thereon and the machine being started are fed slowly to the pins 0, each revolution of the crank and corresponding movement of the eccentric M causing the pawl N to rotate the pinion upon the belt-roller shaft somewhat, thereby imparting to the belt a stepby-step movement. The pins 0 direct the fruit into the grooves in the inclined plate D, down which they are caused to roll by gravity until they reach the pitting-cylinder E. Here they are taken up by the pockets or depressions e in said cylinder, one in each depression, and are carried over until the cylinder reaches the operative position, where it is locked, as hereinbefore described. The

machine is so timed that at the moment the notch or recess in the locking-lever 0 drops over the pin e upon the pinion E the last tooth of the mutilated gear K disengages itself from the idler X and the mutilated or stripped portion thereof begins to pass over the idler. The arms or cams L then come into contact with the cam projections F on the crosshead F and cause the latter to move downward. The pins G are thereby forced through the fruit, punching the pits or stones thereof out through the perforations 6 into the trough I, through which they are conveyed by the worm or screw 1 and deposited in some suitable receptacle placed outside of the machine. When the arms Lpass on beyond the cams F the springf operates to force the cross-head back to its normal position,withdrawing the pins through the openings in the plate H, which removes from the pins the impaled fruit, causing the latter to fall back into the depressions 6. At this moment in the operation the pink comes into contact with the lever P, raising the lockinglever, as described, and the toothed portion of the gear K again engages with the idler X, causing the cylinder to turn and drop the pitted fruit upon the inclined plate 71, from which it rolls into a tray carried by the beltrollers J J, one of which is slowly rotated in the same manner as is the belt-roller Z). In

the meantime the pin it has passed beyond the end of the lever P, releasing the latter and allowing the locking-lever to drop back into position ready to receive the next pin 6 This operation is repeated with each successive revolution of the driving-shaft and crank.

I have herein described and illustrated the machine as having the cross-head and pins adapted to reciprocate in a vertical plane;

but many changes in structure might be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention, and I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise construction shown.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a machine of the class described, the combination ofarotatingpitting-cylinder provided with fruit depressions and perforations extending thereth rough adapted to permit the passage of the pits, reciprocating means for forcing the pits through said perforations, a trough disposed below said cylinder to receive the pits, means for rotating said cylinder to discharge the pitted fruit, and an angular plate arranged below said cylinder having diverging sides arranged todirect the pits into the trough on the one side, and to direct the pitted fruit away from said trough, as discharged, on the other, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of a feeding-belt, a cross-bar arranged above said belt and hav ing pins or rods projecting downward in rear thereof,a grooved distributing-plate arranged in rear of said pins, a pitting-block arranged in rear of said plate and having depressions therein adapted to receive the fruit corresponding to the grooves in said plate, a reciprocating member mounted above said pitting-block, and provided with means adapted to enter the depressions therein and remove the pits from the fruit contained in such depressions, substantially as set forth.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a main drive-shaft, a pitting-cylinder, and a reciprocating member provided with means for removing the pits from the fruit held by the pitting-cylinder, of a pinion carried by the cylinder-shaft, a mutilated gear mounted on the main drive-shaft and adapted to intermittently operate the said pinion, and means carried by the main drive-shaft for actuating the reciprocating member whereby said reciprocating member is depressed while the pitting-cylinder is at rest, substantially as set forth.-

4. In a machine of the class described, the combination with the frame, a main drivingshaft, a pitting-cylinder, and a reciprocating member provided with means for removing the pits from the fruit held by the pittingcylinderof a pinion carried by the cylindershaft, a mutilated gear-wheel mounted on the main drive-shaft and intermittently operating said pinion, means carried by the main drive-shaft for actuating the reciprocating member whereby said reciprocating member is caused to descend while the pitting-cylinder is at rest, means for retracting said reciprocatin g member and means for positively locking the said cylinder during the operations of thereciprocating member, substantially as set forth.

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a rotating pitting-cylinder having perforations extending diametrically therethrough, a movable cross-head arranged above said cylinder and provided with a series of pins adapted to enter the perforations when they are in operative position, a driving-shaft, means carried by the driving-shaft and cross-head for causing the cross-head to descend at each revolution of-the shaft, and mutilated gearing connecting the pitting-cylinder with the shaft, whereby the cylinder is caused to make a half-revolution to each revolution of the shaft, and present the opposite ends of the perforations alternately to the cross-head pins, substantially as set forth.

6. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a main drive-shaft, a pittingcylinder having perforations extending diametrically therethrough, a reciprocating cross-head, mounted above said cylinder and provided with pins adapted to penetrate said perforations when the latter are in operative position, a pinion carried by the cylindershaft, a mutilated gear-wheel carried by. the main drive-shaft gearing therewith for imparting to the cylinder a half-revolution after each reciprocation of the cross-head, whereby the opposite ends of the perforations are alternately presented to the pins, and means for locking the pitting-cylinder against movement during the operation of the cross-head, substantially as set forth.

7. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a frame, a main drivingshaft, a pitting-cylinder and a reciprocating member provided with means for removing the pits from the fruit held by the cylinder, of a pinion carried by the cylinder-shaft, a gear-wheel carried by the main drive-shaft, and intermittently engaging the pinion, a projection carried by the pinion, and a lockinglever adapted to engage said projection to lock the pinion and cylinder against rotation, substantially as set forth.

have locking engagement, and means for releasing said lever from engagement with said projection after each reciprocation of the cross-head, substantially as set forth.

9. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a pitting-cylinder having depressions therein adapted to receive the fruit, a reciprocating cross-head having pins adapted to remove the pits from the fruit held by said cylinder and means for intermittently actuating said cross-head including a main drive-shaft, means for intermittently rotating the cylinder when the crosshead is at rest including a pinion carried by the cylinder-shaft and a mutilated gear-wheel upon the main drive-shaft, of means for looking the cylinder in position of rest comprising a pin carried by'the pinion on the cylinder-shaft, a notched lever adapted to have locking engagement with said pin, and means for releasing said lever from such engagement after each reciprocation of the crosshead comprising a lever pivoted to the frame, a link connecting said lever and the lockinglever, and means carried by the gear-wheel upon the main shaft for actuating the releasing-lever, substantially as set forth.

10. In a machine of the class described, the combination with the pitting mechanism, of a feeding-belt mounted on rollers, a ratchetwheel mounted on the shaft of one of said rollers, a driving-shaft, an eccentric secured thereto, a strap encircling said eccentric, and a pawl connected with said strap and engaging the ratchet-wheel, whereby the belt is given a step-by-step movement to feed the fruit, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM ANDERSON.

Witnesses:

G. O. Mosnn, H. H. Harrow. 

